Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius: Inspiration, Reflection, & Cosmic Static
Yes, Mercury is retrograde, once again!
Mercury retrograde isn't unusual, it's one of the more regular astronomical rhythms next to New Moons & Full Moons... occurring approximately every four months and lasting around 21 days…
Understanding the Anatomy of Mercury Retrograde
First, a quick cosmic primer: no planet actually reverses its course. Retrograde motion is an optical illusion created by Earth’s orbit. From our geocentric perspective, when Mercury travels between the Sun and Earth, it appears to move backward in the sky.
All the planets of our solar system travel in a counterclockwise motion around the Sun (from the perspective above the Sun's North Pole... panning way out above Sol's System). No planet actually reverses direction and starts to travel clockwise... that would be chaos!
The retrograde motion of a particular planet is purely from a geocentric perspective.
Mercury and Venus go retrograde when they travel between the Sun and Earth while the outer planets (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) and asteroids go retrograde when they travel around Earth to the opposite side of where the Sun is (from Earth, they are “opposing the Sun”).
In simple terms, what gives retrogrades their power is that they are closer to Earth than when they are traveling on the other side of the Sun relative to Earth.
So when Mercury is traveling between the Sun and the Earth, all of the Sun's ions are pouring through and around Mercury, which tends to cause a bit of interference... think of it as cosmic static.
Mercury rules communication, travel, technology, and the nervous system—all areas we rely on to navigate daily life. Think of the tools that we use to travel and communicate with each other and the world: planes, trains, automobiles, phones, computers, Internet/Wi-Fi connections, as well as our nervous systems, so our thinking, walking, and even old-fashioned face-to-face conversations can be impacted!
Therefore, Mercury Retrogrades can disrupt communication, create travel delays, and spark tech hiccups. But these periods also offer us an opportunity to slow down and tap into our creative, right-brained selves.
This year’s Mercury Retrogrades have been all about fire!
What is notable is that Mercury goes retrograde in a particular element every year. In western astrology, we have 4 elements: Fire, Earth, Air, & Water. Some years will host a hybrid of elements as Mercury scoots back from one sign into the previous sign and then reverses course and goes direct in the sign where he began going retrograde.
He began in Aries this past April, then dipped briefly into Leo in August during a Virgo retrograde, and now Mercury firmly plants himself in Sagittarius for his last retrograde of the year. This journey lasts until December 15th when Mercury stations direct at 6°24' Sagittarius.
Fire, the element of inspiration, passion, and action, fuels this retrograde… providing lots of motivation to get things done!
Sagittarius, a mutable fire sign, brings an adventurous, free-spirited, and dynamic energy, encouraging exploration, adaptability, and big-picture thinking.
Let’s dive deeper into what this particular retrograde means and how we can best navigate it…
A Dance of Mutual Reception
This Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius is going to be a bit intensified because he will oppose Jupiter in Gemini twice.
What's significant about this is that Mercury is in Jupiter's sign and Jupiter is in Mercury's sign (mutual reception)… but neither one is particularly happy about it since they are also “in detriment” when they are in the sign opposite the one they rule.
Jupiter/Zeus rules Sagittarius. Being the sky god that he is, he much prefers to play in the lofty/higher realms of philosophy and more abstract thinking.
Mercury/Hermes rules Gemini. Mercury, or Hermes in the Greek, is the messenger god between the upper realm of Mount Olympus and the lower realm of Hades, ruled by Pluto, so he is more content when it comes to trivia, details, and practical thinking.
Since they are in mutual reception, however, they are both empowered in there contentious exchange when Mercury opposes Jupiter on December 4th and again on December 26th while Jupiter is retrograde.
These oppositions highlight a tension between expansive, big-picture thinking (Jupiter in Gemini) and Mercury’s desire to fine-tune the details in Sagittarius.
Generally, when Mercury is retrograde, we tend to flip from our logical left brained selves into our right brains. It's a great time to be creative and, with Jupiter in the mix, expect some BIG ideas to come through…
Let the ideas come, but hold off on implementing them!
What to Expect When Mercury is Retrograde?
This is nothing to fear, just something to navigate!
Mercury retrograde invites us to review, revise, reinvent, redo, and refine. This is a perfect period for editing projects, brainstorming creative ideas, and revisiting plans with fresh eyes.
However, do be mindful of potential mishaps:
Travel Plans: Double-check itineraries and expect delays.
Technology: Back up your devices and practice patience with tech glitches.
Communication: Choose your words carefully, and don’t rush to make commitments.
Mercury Retrograde invites us to pause and reconnect with the natural cycles of expansion and contraction. Nature itself demonstrates the need for rest and rejuvenation. Embrace this rhythm and allow yourself the time to regroup.
Personally, I love Mercury Retrograde! I think that we'd all be a bit burned out if we only marched forward. Nature shows us that there is order in the universe with the rhythmic cycles of expansion and contraction.
We all need time to reflect, rest, and rejuvenate!
A Creative and Cosmic Holiday Season
Enjoy these next few weeks as we embark upon the holiday season, but be sure to double-check those holiday travel plans because the "Trickster" loves to play his games.
If my laptop doesn't want to behave, I find that taking a few deep breaths and stepping away, usually does the trick.
The irony here is that while I was working on this blog, our wifi went out... so we shifted gears to celebrate my Solar Return, including seeing the long-awaited "Wicked!"
This holiday season brings opportunities for inspiration and creation, fueled by Mercury in Sagittarius’s fiery energy!
So have creative, inspiring, and joy-filled holidays, and have fun with your creations... just hold off on implementing any big plans until after the 15th, although Mars will be going retrograde on December 6th until February 23, 2025, but that’s a topic for another blog.
As Amanda Pua Walsh says: “The cosmos is relentless!” Or as William and I like to say, “It’s times like these that we just need to ‘quantum it!’”
As we journey through this Mercury Retrograde, let’s embrace its gifts. These moments of reflection and recalibration are essential for aligning with the greater cosmic flow. If you’d like personalized guidance to navigate these celestial energies, I’d be honored to help light your path.
I've also created 5 Ways to Survive & Thrive during Mercury Retrograde!
Wishing you a joyful, inspired holiday season, full of wonder and possibility!
Warmly,
Elise
P.S. Need clarity during the cosmic static? Let's Schedule a Complimentary 30-minute S.P.A. for the Soul™ Discovery Call
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